Hobart High School
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Transcript Hobart High School
Potential academy conversion consultation June 2012
Governing Body minutes 09.05.12
The Governing Body proposes to submit a formal
application for the conversion of Hobart High School
to Academy status and resolves to carry out the
consultation on Academy Status and asks the Local
Authority to carry out the TUPE consultation.
This was agreed unanimously
What does this mean?
What is an Academy?
The National/Norfolk context
The Hobart context: what do we want to do
The Hobart context: what don’t we want to do
Wider consultation
Process from here
Questions
What is an Academy?
A centrally funded state school
Free from Local Authority control
Free from following the National Curriculum
Freedom to set own pay and conditions for staff
Focus on freedom for the school to drive improvement
The National/Norfolk context
Part of a clear national, political agenda
Mixed community of schools
1 May 2012: 1807 UK Academies
Experience in some authorities: Sutton, Leicestershire
The National/Norfolk context
Norfolk pattern matches the national
Currently 23/50 have converted or have a published
conversion date early in 12/13
They cover all types of schools and all Ofsted gradings
The National/Norfolk context
Sponsored Academies:
Open
City
Ormiston Venture
Ormiston Victory
Kings Lynn
Thetford
Hamonds (September)
Hockering and Methwold (September)
The National/Norfolk context
Converter Academies:
Springwood
Diss
Cromer
Wymondham High
Sheringham
Wayland
Hellesdon
Caister
Taverham
Flegg
Acle
The National/Norfolk context
Converter Academies:
Wymondham College
Lynn Grove
Notre Dame
Reepham
4/7 of the outstanding schools
Aylsham (Foundation), Alderman Peel, Hobart
The National/Norfolk context
Changes at the LA:
Several rounds of redundancy at the advisory service
Reduction in support offered to schools e.g.
counselling
Increase in the offer of a traded service for many areas
Many aspects being devolved to schools/clusters: Pupil
Specific SEN funding
The National/Norfolk context
Norfolk County Council (elected)
Clear stance in favour of supporting High Schools who
wish to convert; but no wholesale requirement
Recognition of the mixed community of schools and a
need to work closely with all providers
The Hobart context: what would we want to do?
Maintain outstanding status
Deliver a curriculum that suits our need free from
external pressures
Secure finances in an uncertain climate
Use additional funding to replace some services lost by
LA cuts – such as counselling/behaviour support and
our ability to select who we employ
Review some aspects of business side of the school
Use resources to support other schools in the Loddon
cluster
The Hobart context: what would we want to do?
LACSEG: Local Authority Central Spend Equivalent
Grant
Current indication for Hobart £245,000
Other heads have suggested that they have brought
back key services for less than their LACSEG – bring
additional resourcing into the school
The Hobart context: what wouldn’t we want to
do?
Change the name of the school
Change the uniform
Change timings and term dates
Change job titles
Change terms and conditions
But…
The Hobart context: what wouldn’t we want to
do?
The Head and the Governing Body (current or future)
would still have the legal right to change any of these
should the need change
Risks
Responsibility for the site: long term lease
Maintaining the buildings
Additional employer costs: pensions, maternity,
redundancy
Future changes to school funding
Governance
High School (LA) Governors establish Academy Trust
(charitable company limited by guarantee)
Academy Trust: 3 or 4 Members appoint Governors
(also known as directors or trustees)
Governing Body runs the Academy on behalf of the
trust
Responsible for: quality of education; challenge and
monitor performance; manage finance and property;
employ staff
Must include two parents and the Headteacher
Ethos and values
Maintain what works well at the school
High levels of academic achievement
Personalised support for SEN students
Range of enrichment activities
Management of behaviour
Still subject to OFSTED inspection
Wider consultation
We will consult until 21 September
Public meeting: 2 July at 19.00
Letters to local interest groups
Letters to professional associations
Website information and contact
Questions and comments in writing
Response to written questions: September
Process from here
Await Academy Order: triggers drawing up of funding
arrangement and LA consultation with staff
21 September: consultation closes
Mid October: full Governors meeting to review
comments from consultation and to consider funding
agreement. Agreement on whether to continue with
process
If we continue an Academy would open early in 2013
Conclusion
Largest sustained period of change in education for a
generation
Standing still is not an option; we have to adapt to a
changing environment
Questions